The people is what makes the North Pine neighborhood in Downtown Long Beach so special, said Robert Lebsack, a local artist who just finished painting a mural that highlights the different qualities of this neighborhood.
Painted on the side of Planet Fitness at Fourth Street and Pine Avenue, the artwork is the first in a series of murals that will adorn different neighborhoods of the downtown area thanks to the Downtown Long Beach Alliance.
The organization launched the project, called the DTLB Neighborhood Map Mural Project, which aims to serve as a colorful visual guide to Downtown Long Beach neighborhoods’ landmarks, personality, and pride. The initiative is being led by the Placemaking team and the DTLB Alliance Placemaking Committee, officials said.
In an effort to build stronger neighborhood identities ahead of the 2028 Olympics and foster a sense of local connection across downtown, there will be seven murals part of the project. The first mural, painted by Lebsack, kicks off this effort.
On a background of sunset orange, letters that spell “Long Beach” feature iconic downtown places, such as the Pine Avenue gateway sign, a Metro train, the farmers market, and the Lions Lighthouse. People are walking, riding their bike, and walking their dog across the mural, which Lebsack said reflected what he sees in the neighborhood on a daily basis.
“The people is really what makes it interesting,” Lebsack said in an interview. “They’re all mixing together, so I wanted to put not just the places but people in there too.”
The North Pine neighborhood has a new mural. The mural is part of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s Neighborhood Map Mural Project, which was painted by local artist Robert Lebsack. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Artist Robert Lebsack painting his North Pine mural, located at 345 Pine Ave., for the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s Neighborhood Map Mural Project. (Photo courtesy of Robert Lebsack)
The North Pine neighborhood has a new mural. The mural is part of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s Neighborhood Map Mural Project, which was painted by local artist Robert Lebsack. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Artist Robert Lebsack standing in front of his North Pine mural, located at 345 Pine Ave., part of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s Neighborhood Map Mural Project on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The North Pine neighborhood has a new mural. The mural is part of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s Neighborhood Map Mural Project, which was painted by local artist Robert Lebsack. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The North Pine neighborhood has a new mural. The mural is part of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s Neighborhood Map Mural Project, which was painted by local artist Robert Lebsack. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The North Pine neighborhood has a new mural. The mural is part of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s Neighborhood Map Mural Project, which was painted by local artist Robert Lebsack. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The North Pine neighborhood has a new mural. The mural is part of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s Neighborhood Map Mural Project, which was painted by local artist Robert Lebsack. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Artist Robert Lebsack painting his North Pine mural, located at 345 Pine Ave., for the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s Neighborhood Map Mural Project. (Photo courtesy of Robert Lebsack)
The North Pine neighborhood has a new mural. The mural is part of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s Neighborhood Map Mural Project, which was painted by local artist Robert Lebsack. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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The North Pine neighborhood has a new mural. The mural is part of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s Neighborhood Map Mural Project, which was painted by local artist Robert Lebsack. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Downtown Long Beach Alliance stives to capture the feeling of belonging and understanding of other neighborhoods as well, including the Historic East Village, Willmore City, among others, through visual storytelling.
“It’s extremely important for us to focus on our various neighborhoods,” said James Ahumada, the Senior Vice President and Deputy CEO of the DTLBA. “There’s many distinct and unique neighborhoods and different types of businesses in each of those neighborhoods. I think it’s important to us to give them a voice and spotlight.”
There are many murals in the downtown area, Ahumada said, but very few highlight each neighborhood in a specific way like this project is trying to do.
Lebsack has been painting murals for 15 years, and said that this project was a great opportunity to paint a big mural and highlight the neighborhood he lives in as well. It took a month to complete the mural and was finished at the beginning of this month. It was unveiled during this month’s Art Walk that the Alliance hosts to highlight local artists.
“I was like that’s really interesting, especially since I just live a mile down the street,” Lebsack said. “I was able to come and explore the exact parameters that they had set up for what is North Pine. I tried to get a feel for the area that they were trying to describe.”
That is the advice that he gives for other artists interested in participating in the project.
“Try to get a feel for the neighborhood that it’s in, because these are supposed to be really community-based,” he said, “and try to get each the unique personality of each neighborhood.”
At the beginning of next year, Ahumada said, is when the process will begin again for the next two murals in the series.